TV & Showbiz

A new Bridget Jones film is on the way – but a key actor won’t be returning for the fourth instalment

It might be a shock to some of you - anyone who's read all the books, less so.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 10th April 2024

The classic British rom-com film series Bridget Jones is back for a fourth instalment and while plenty of fans are obviously buzzing, a key character won’t be returning to the cast.

The latest movie in the franchise, Bridget Jones’s Baby, was released back in 2016 and received fairly solid reviews for the most part following its 12-year hiatus and it looks as though the return was successful enough to adapt the most recent book as well.

Based on the 2013 novel of the same name, Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy, the upcoming return of the often overwhelmed, awkward and hopeless romantic lead character is set to see Renée Zellweger reprise role alongside key love interest Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver.

However, while Emma Thompson and others are also expected to return, veteran English actor Colin Firth will not be starring in Bridget Jones 4.

The iconic rom-com trio is no more.

As per a report by Deadline and as fans of the books will already know, 63-year-old Firth – who famously played the series’ other main heartthrob Mark Darcy in the first three films – isn’t part of the latest project as his character doesn’t appear in the latest title.

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Without giving too much away about the story, especially since author Helen Fielding hasn’t given away too much about how faithful the latest Hollywood movie will stay to her original written work, let’s just say the iconic British comedy and modern romance character is in a different place in her life.

However, the entertainment outlet did go on to reveal previously unknown details about the story’s adaptation for the big screen, confirming that Love Actually actor Chiwetel Ejiofor will be popping up in this one, as well as Netflix’s One Day star Leo Woodall.

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We’re still not over the latter saying that us Mancs talk all sexy so we’re absolutely here for it.

why is colin firth not in the new bridget jones film?
Sorry to all the Darcy die-hards, but there’ll be no Firth in the fourth Bridget Jones film.

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Again, the details surrounding the rest of the film are still pretty scarce at these early stages but fans will have known a script was in the works after Fielding mentioned it on a Radio Times podcast in 2022.

While diligent readers who are completely up to date with everything printed so far can at least have a good idea of what to expect from the new Bridget Jones film, the rest of you will have to wait.

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As for exactly how long you’ll have to wait, well, that’s still kind of up in the air too. Although it has already been slated for Valentine’s Day 2025 in the US and international cinemas, as well as on the Peacock streaming platform, the UK release date is yet to be revealed.

Will you be going to watch the sequel?

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Featured Images — Universal Pictures

TV & Showbiz

Fawlty Towers – The Play is coming to Manchester Opera House next year

Danny Jones Danny Jones Fawlty Towers The Play Manchester tickets

John Cleese’s much-loved Fawlty Towers – The Play is landing at the Manchester Opera House next year and we cannot wait.

The critically acclaimed theatre adaptation of the iconic sitcom, still revered as one of the greatest UK comedies of all time, first came to fruition back in 2016 and is now set to land here in Manchester city centre for the first time ever.

We’ve been treated to Fawlty Towers The Dining Experience at The Lowry Theatre in Salford before, but this is the first time the smash-hit West End stage production has headed North and judging by the reviews, audiences are about to be belly-laughing all the way to Torquay.

Coming to Manc crowds this time next winter, you can expect this one to be a sell-out.

Still busy playing a fully booked-up run at London’s Apollo Theatre Shaftesbury Avenue, the twice-extended West End show is packing up its stage for a massive tour across the UK and Ireland.

Announcing dozens of dates next year and well into the summer of 2026, including shows in Leeds, Liverpool, York, Stoke, Sunderland and many more, the show has earned four and five-star reviews from countless publications.

The Arts Desk have hailed it as a “comedy masterpiece [that] makes a seamless transition to the stage”, with actor Adam Jackson-Smith playing the lead role of Basil Fawlty and the entire cast said to leave viewers cackling with some of the best bits from iconic TV series recreated in the flesh.

Speaking on the stage adaptation, John Cleese said: “When we came up with the idea of bringing Fawlty Towers to the stage, I never thought it would get the reception that it has.

“On 23 December it will be 50 years to the day since we recorded the pilot at BBC Television Centre and I’m delighted the audiences we’ve had in the West End still think it’s as funny as ever. The announcement of the tour means many more people will now have the chance to laugh themselves helpless.”

John Cleese, now 85.

Set to hit the road 50 years on from the broadcast of the first episode on BBC Two back in September 1975, before going on to win countless awards including two BAFTAS and even being voted the best British programme of all time as part of a British Film Institute poll, it all feels very full circle.

Brought to life on stage by a creative team consisting of Cleese and fellow writer Connie Booth and directed by Caroline Jay Ranger – best known for her work on Blood Means Nothing (2019), My Week with Maisy (2024), Early Doors: Live (2021) and the Monty Python live show, there’s non-stop talent both on and off the stage.

One of the best part parts about a series that was stretched across just 12 half-hour episodes of TV is that you can just about manage to squeeze in the majority of the most memorable highlights into the approximately 1h50m run-time.

You can see the cast’s recent interview on This Morning HERE and for a short trailer for a better look at what to expect down below:

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Fawlty Towers – The Play comes to the Manchester Opera House on Tuesday, 4 November 2025 and will be there until Saturday, 8 November.

General admission is live as we speak, with ticket options starting from £20 and going all the way up to £147.50 for the best premium seats and experience in the house.

You can grab your tickets HERE.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press Images (supplied)

TV & Showbiz

Gregg Wallace apologises after Downing Streets labels ‘middle-class women’ comments ‘misogynistic’

Danny Jones Danny Jones Gregg Wallace apologises for middle class women comments

Gregg Wallace has issued an official apology as he looks to be in increasing trouble not only over recent reports of his misconduct on set but his subsequent reaction to the allegations and now viral “middle-class women” comments.

The 60-year-old MasterChef presenter and well-known foodie face stepped down from the BBC cooking show last week after a total of 13 people came forward to complain about his ‘sexual’ behaviour over the course of a 17-year period.

Despite having denied an initial accusation from a former female colleague regarding an incident back in 2018, in which insists no comments or actions of a sexual nature were made, a dozen more individuals have now submitted historical complaints to the corporation and a full investigation is underway.

However, in an Instagram story shared on Sunday, Wallace was quick to dismiss the claims made by what he called “a handful of middle-class women of a certain age” – a response which was quickly met with a severe backlash online.

Equally problematic was his suggestion that because he had worked with an estimated 2,000 people during his time on the show the words of “only 13” women were somehow less valid and/or believable.

Having also shared a video thanking all of those supporting him, as well as numerous other stories featuring personal messages from people both on and off the show defending him, he has continued to rebuke those who have put his conduct over the past two decades under a microscope.

That being said, it looks as though the now former TV personality and household name is doubling back after even Downing Street came out to condemn his comments, with a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer labelling the response video “completely inappropriate and misogynistic.”

Having since deleted a number of his IG stories and now shared a follow-up video to his initial reply, telling his followers: “I want to apologise for any offence that I caused with my post yesterday and any upset I may have caused to a lot of people.”

He said that he was not in a “good head space” when he posted the response and has been dealing with a lot of stress since the story broke, adding, “I felt very alone.” You can see the clip down below.

As you see, the ex-green grocer and restaurant owner said he intends to step away from the story for now and let the in-house investigation move forward without interruption.

Both the BBC and production company, Banijay UK – who make MasterChef and the various spin-off series on which Gregg Wallace has served as a co-host – are currently conducting an internal review of those complaints made by former contestants and staff, including a BBC news anchor.

While none of the allegations are yet to be proved, one former male contestant reportedly told Sky News that the current allegations are just the “tip of the iceberg“, claiming he witnessed a “toxic environment” and was so “horrified” he considered quitting the show on his first day.

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Featured Images — BBC/Gregg Wallace (screenshots via Instagram/YouTube)

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